TO LADY HAMILTON.

[From "Lord Nelson's Letters to Lady Hamilton," vol. ii. p. 67.]

Victory, August 31st, 1804-say 30th, at Evening. Therefore I wrote, in fact, this day, through Spain.

My ever dearest Emma,

Yesterday, I wrote to you, through Spain; this goes by Naples. Mr. Falconet, I think, will send it; although, I am sure, he feels great fear from the French Minister, for having anything to do with us. Mr. Greville is a shabby fellow! It never could have been the intention of Sir William, but that you should have had seven hundred pounds a year, neat money; for, when he made the Will, the Income Tax was double to what it is at present; and the estate which it is paid from is increasing every year in value. It may be law, but it is not just; nor in equity would, I believe, be considered as the will and intention of Sir William. Never mind! Thank God, you do not want any of his kindness; nor will he give you justice!

I

I may fairly say all this; because my actions are different, even to a person who has treated me so ill. As toknow the full extent of the obligation I owe him, and he may be useful to me again; but I can never forget his unkindness to you. But, I guess, many reasons influenced his conduct, in bragging of his riches, and my honourable poverty; but, as I have often said, and with honest pride, what I have is my own; it never cost the widow a tear, or the Nation a farthing. I got what I have with my pure blood, from the Enemies of my Country. Our house, my own Emma, is built upon a solid foundation; and will last to us, when his house and lands may belong to others than his children. I would not have believed it, from any one but you! But, if ever I go abroad again, matters shall be settled very differently. I am working hard with Gibbs about Bronté, but the calls upon me are very heavy. Next September, I shall be clear; I mean, September 1805. I have wrote to both Acton and the Queen about you. I do not think she likes Mr. Elliot; and, therefore, I wish she had never shown him my letters about you. We also know that he has a card of his own to play. Dr. Scott, who is a good man-although, poor fellow! very often

wrong in the head-is going with Staines, in the Cameleon, just to take a peep at Naples and Palermo. I have introduced him to Acton, who is very civil to everybody from me. The Admiralty proceedings towards me, you will know much sooner than I shall. I hope they will do the thing handsomely, and allow of my return in the Spring; but I do not expect it. I am very uneasy at your and Horatia being on the Coast; for you cannot move, if the French make the attempt; which, I am told, they have done, and been repulsed. Pray God, it may be true!

I shall rejoice to hear you and Horatia are safe at Merton; and happy shall I be, the day I join you. Gannam Justem. Gaetano is very grateful for your remembrance of him. Mr. Chevalier is an excellent servant. William says, he has wrote twice: I suppose he thinks that enough. This is written within three miles of the Fleet in Toulon, who are looking very tempting. Kind regards to Mrs. Cadogan, Charlotte, &c. and compliments to all our joint friends; for they are no friends of mine, who are not friends to Emma. God bless you, again and again! Captain Hardy has not been very well; and I fancy, Admiral Murray will not be sorry to see England, especially since he has been promoted..... he expects his flag may be up. God bless you, my dearest Emma, and be assured I am, &c.

TO CARDINAL DESPUIG.

[From Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii. p. 385.]

August, 1804.

Having always paid the greatest attention to your Brother Cardinals, and to the Sovereignty of the Pope, particularly in 1798, when I saved them from Naples, and in 1799, when a British Naval Officer under my orders hoisted the Papal colours, and hauled down the French, upon the Castle of St. Angelo, I therefore send (although I am sure no British Officer requires such an order) an order for every Officer under my command to pay your Eminence all the respect due to your high rank, and also to give you every facility in their power to forward the successful termination of your

voyage: and if I can be useful in sending your Eminence to Italy, only tell me so, and I shall be happy in the opportunity of assuring your Eminence with what respect I am, your most obedient servant,

NELSON AND Bronte.

TO CAPTAIN THOMAS STAINES, ESQ., H.M. SLOOP CAMELEON.

Most secret.

[Order-Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 1st September, 1804.

You are hereby required and directed to proceed without a moment's loss of time in his Majesty's Sloop Cameleon, under your command, through the Faro of Messina into the Adriatic, and cruise and search for the numerous French Privateers which infest that sea, as you will observe by the enclosed list. You will call occasionally at Trieste, Pirano, Fiume, Ragusa, and, in short, at any place not occupied by the French, where you may possibly gain information, except Ancona and Manfredonia: both these last-mentioned places appear to require great caution in approaching their harbours, you will, therefore, act with respect thereto as from circumstances may be proper. As the object of the service you are to be employed on, is secret and confidential, you will conceal it from any Senior Officer you may fall in with, and also from our Consuls, acquainting them that you expect dispatches either for me, or orders to meet you at the place, &c. &c., which will regulate your future conduct; consequently, your stay in the Adriatic and time of leaving it, will also remain with yourself. In the event of your being applied to take Convoy, except from Trieste to Venice, or a similar distance, which will only employ the Cameleon for a few hours, you will on no account do so, stating, as a reason, that you are employed on a particular service, and expect orders or dispatches for me, and therefore cannot divert from it a moment; but in this your judgment will point out what may be most proper; and I am led to hope from your disguising the Cameleon, added to the known abilities and perseverance which has on all occasions marked your conduct, that your present visit to the Adriatic will clear that place of the Privateers before alluded to.

The Enemy's Vessels which you may capture can be sent into any of the Austrian Ports, or certainly into Corfu, until you return to Malta, when you will take any Convoy from the Adriatic, which may be ready to proceed to Valetta Harbour, under your protection. I herewith transmit you a copy of a letter from Captain Raynsford, of the Morgiana, which will enable you to form a judgment how to act, together with an order to prevent any Senior Officer from interfering with you, or to demand a sight of this, which is most secret.

I hope the state of the Cameleon, in every respect, will enable you to continue on this service in the Adriatic until the end of October, when you will return to Malta, and deliver the accompanying order to the Officers of that Yard, which will enable you to make her complete, and fit for any future service. In the execution of these instructions I rely with confidence on your judgment and exertions, and must leave it for you to act as from circumstances of information you may judge best for the destruction of the Enemy's Privateers.

NELSON AND Bronte.

TO THE CAPTAIN OR COMMANDER OF ANY OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS OR VESSELS WHO MAY FALL IN WITH HIS MAJESTY'S SLOOP CAMELEON.

[Order-Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 1st September, 1804. You are hereby required and directed on no account to interfere with Captain Staines, or to demand a sight of his Orders, which are most secret, unless from particular circumstances it may be judged necessary, in which case you are to keep them most inviolably secret.

NELSON AND BRONTE.

TO CAPTAIN ROBERT PETTET, H. M. SLOOP TERMAGANT.

[Order-Book.]

Victory, at Sea, 1st September, 1804.

You are hereby required and directed to proceed without a moment's loss of time in his Majesty's Sloop Termagant,

under your command, to Palermo, and deliver my secret dispatches herewith transmitted to Captain Staines of the Cameleon, passing through the Straits of Bonifaccio, on your way to the above mentioned place (but on no account to anchor at Madalena). Should the Cameleon not have arrived at Palermo, you will wait there for Captain Staines, and receive from him such letters, &c. as he may have brought from Naples; and afterwards, remain at Palermo three days for such dispatches as Sir John Acton and Mr. Gibbs may have to send to me. Having waited at Palermo, and received the letters, &c., as above mentioned, you will return and join me with all possible expedition, passing to the Southward of Sardinia, in order to get your Westing, and join me on Rendezvous No. 102, where you will find the Squadron, or orders for your further proceedings. Should you be forced to the Westward as far as Minorca, and as Cape St. Sebastians is not far out of your way, it is possible the Fleet may be there: you will, consequently, judge the propriety of passing through Rendezvous No. 97.

NELSON AND Bronte.

TO CAPTAIN ROBERT RAYNSFORD, H. M. SLOOP MORGIANA.

Sir,

[From a Copy in the Admiralty.]

Victory, at Sea, 2nd September, 1804.

I have received your letters of the 29th and 30th July, together with the several inclosures which accompanied them, and I have great satisfaction in expressing my full and entire approbation of every part of your conduct, as mentioned in your foresaid letters. With respect to the line of conduct necessary to be observed with the Enemy's Privateers, under similar circumstances, it is impossible for me to name any precise mode of proceeding; for if the laws of Neutrality are not adhered to, and enforced by the Powers in amity with all the world, it will, I fear, if remonstrances are not attended to by those Powers, become necessary to destroy the Enemy's Privateers wherever they may be found. But this measure must not be resorted to until proofs of misconduct on the part